Twisting device



mec. E4? gg. y g E, BORR 2,336,534

frwIsTING DEVICE Fled-F6b. 1l, 1942 EL @Tm L A fr0/mary l* .3T-TCT... E5; l L

Patented Dec. 14, 1943 uNrrso anaal 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to improvements in twisting devices and isparticularly well adapted for use in the twisting of wires.

Heretofore, twisting devices have been provided for various wiretwisting operations, but such devices have had many disadvantages. Dueto the use of moving machined parts, frequent oihng was required, partsoften became clogged or worn out, and various adjustments were requiredbefore the device could be operated. It has also been customary tooperate such wire twisting devices by means of handles or otheroperating members which were rotated to produce the desired twisting ofthe wire. In many uses, however, such as concrete forms or other crampedspaces, rotating handles or operating members cannot be used because oflack of space.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a twistingdevice of this character which will be free from the disadvantages ofthe devices of the prior art.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a twisting device ofthis character which requires no oiling, which is not subject to damagefrom abrasion, which has no adjustable parts and which has no partssubject to clogging or wear.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter which has operating members movable in a line rather thanrotatably about a pivot.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specication andwherein like char-l acters of reference denote like parts throughout,

Figure 1 is an elevation of the device in assembled position ready foroperation;

Figure 2 is an edge elevation thereof, and

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3 3 of Figure 1.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral Iii designates theannular rim of the wire twister which, in the position shown in Fig. 1of the drawing, has a gap or opening Ii at its lower portion. A crossbar ignconnects opposite sides of the rim IB at a point slightly abovethe center of the rim as viewed in Fig. 1, and in this figure thecrossbar I2 is in a horizontal position, in spaced parallel relation tothe gap or opening I I.

A prong I3 extends from the cross bar I2 towards the gap II, and joinsthe cross bar at a right angle and at a point a, little to the left ofthe center of the cross bar, as viewed in Fig. 1. The prong I3 has itsend pointed and curved slightly to the right in Fig. 1, terminating at apoint spaced a short distance from the gap II. A rib l-i connects therim II adjacent the left side of gap II in Fig. 1 with the cross bar I2at a point spaced a substantial distance from the prong IS, and the ribIll extends in spaced substantially parallel relation to the prong,being curved adjacent its outer end to correspond to the curvature ofthe end portion of the prong.

yThe outer periphery of the rim I@ is provided with a plurality ofsubstantially equally spaced ratchet teeth I5, shown as ten in numberalthough any suitable number may be employed, and between each tooth I5and the adjacent portion of the rim a deep reentrant notch I6 isprovided. The teeth I5 are preferably spaced a substantial distanceapart, and as viewed in Fig. l, extend in a clockwise direction over thenotches IIS. Each notch IG is connected at its inner portion with thenext adjacent tooth I5 by a relatively smooth, unbroken surface Il. Y

While the twister, comprising the rim ii), bar I2, prong I3, rib Hl andteeth I5, may be formed in any suitable manner, it is shown as castintegrally in one piece, such as a malleable iron casting, with spacesbetween the bar I2 and rim I0 and between the rib Ill and the adjacentportion of the rim IE.

A ring I8 is shown extending through a small opening I9 provided in thecross bar i2 for a purpose to be later described.

For use with the twister, a pair of similar handle members are provided.Each of the handles comprises an elongated body member iii which maybeof wood or other suitable material. A

pair of spaced plates 2| are secured at their upper ends to the lowerend of each handle 2S by means of bolts 0r rivets 22 and spaced apart bythe thickness of the handle 2li which may or may not be notched toreceive the plates. The upper portions of the plates 22 are disposed inalignment with the handle 2i) while their lower ends are inclined from apoint immediatelir below the end of the handle. A bolt or rod 23 rigidlyconnects the plates at a point adjacent but spaced from the lower endsof the plates. The plates 2I and bolt 23 are preferably of metal orother strong.

material, and the spacing of the plates is maintained by the handle 2liand rod 23. This spacing is such that the teeth I5 or rim IIJ of thetwister may be freely inserted between the plates. Either or both ofhandles 2B may be provided at its upper end with a hook member 24 forengagement with the ring I8 or other part of the twister to lift thetwister from relatively inaccessible points such as from betweenconcrete forms or the like.

In operation, the twister is lowered in the position shown in Figure 1so that the wires to be twisted will pass through opening I I. The prongI3 is passed between the wires 25, and in a cramped space, the cross barI2 may be rested upon the Wires. The handles 20 are then applied byinserting the rods 23 in notches I6 with the adjacent teeth I5 extendingbetween the spaced plates 2|. Referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen thatwith the teeth extending in a clockwise direction, the rod 23 of theright handle 29 is passed under a tooth I 5 into its notch I8, and thata vertical upward pull o-n handle 20 will cause the twister to rotate ina counterclockwise direction. It will also be seen that the rod 23 ofthe left handle 20 is inserted downwardly into one of notches I6 andthat vertically downward movement of the handle will cause acounterclockwise rotation of the twister. When the twister has beenrotated as far as possible with one setting of the handles, its positioncan be maintained by holding the left handle while the right handle ismoved to a lower tooth and notch at which time the twister may be heldin position until the left handle is shifted. The operation is thenrepeated until the desired twisting of the wires 25 has beenaccomplished. When the twister is turned around so that its teeth extendin a counterclockwise direction, the action will be the same but thehandles 20 will have their direction of movement reversed, the twisterwill be rotated in a clockwise direction and the wires 25 will betwisted in a different direction. If the twister is used in a crampedspace such as a deep concrete form, it may be lowered into .position bypassing the hook 24 under the upper portion of rim IIJ, or under crossbar I2 or through ring I8 and lowered by means of the handle 20. Thetwister may be removed by means of the hook 24 and if dropped to thebottom of the form or other relatively inaccessible spot, it can readilybe lished out by means of the hook 24 and rin-g I8 or other portion ofthe twister. During rotation of the twister, the prong I3, bar I2 andrib I4 cooperate to insure proper twisting of the wires 25. By

leaving spaces between the rim I0 and bar I2 and rib I4, less metal isrequired, the twister is light in weight and openings are provided forhandling the twister by means of hook 24 or by other means.

An important feature of the present invention is the movement of thehandles 20 in a vertical line to rotate the twister. In many places,such as concrete forms, the space is often narrow and deep andobstructed by reinforcements, spacers and the like, which renderinoperative any twisters having handles which must be rotated or movedin an arc. The handles 20 of the present invention, however, are movablein a straight line with very little side motion and consequently can beslipped between obstructions and operated without interference from suchobstructions. By reason of the inclined lower portions of the plates 2l,the handles 20 are spaced outwardly from the twister so as to be free tomove vertically for a substantial distance without interference from thetwister rim or teeth. Due to the fact that the handles are separate fromthe twister, the device is not only easier to transport, but can beinserted and operated in many cramped spaces where it could otherwisenot be used.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of theinvention, it is to be understood that various changes in the size,shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit of the invention and the scope of the subjoined claim.

What I claim is:

In a device of the character described, a wire twisting member havingWire engaging elements,

a series of undercut ratchet teeth spaced about the periphery of saidwire twisting member and extending in a single direction with respect tothe periphery of said twisting member, and a pair of independentlongitudinally movable operating handles adapted to removably engageratchet teeth on opposite sides of said twisting element -for twistingengagement therewith toimpart a rotative movement to said twistingrelement when f said handles are moved in opposite directions, a

ring secured to said twisting member, and a hook carried by one of saidhandles for engagement with said ring forlifting said twisting member.

EVERETT E. BORR.

